Pierce at first use dispensing tap for flexible bag with filling gland and bag including the same

Abstract

A package including a fitment for dispensing a liquid from a flexible bag is disclosed. The fitment is secured to the bag and includes a compressible bulb and a piercing member that are coupled together. In two embodiments the fitment is configured so that the piercing member pierces through a wall of the bag to dispense the bag's contents through an outlet port of the fitment. One of those embodiments includes a separate valve to open and close the outlet port. Another embodiment does not include a separate valve to open and close the outlet port. A third embodiment makes use of a fitment connected to a filling gland of the bag and which is in communication with the interior of the bag. That third embodiment includes a frangible seal forming part of the fitment and which is pierced by the piercing member to dispense the liquid from the bag.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fitment for package holding a liquid therein, said fitment being configured for selectively dispensing a quantity of the liquid from the package, the package comprising a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is disposed, a wall contiguous with the hollow interior, and a gland located in the wall the gland having an opening extending therethrough in communication with the hollow interior of the bag, said fitment being configured for securement to the gland and comprising:
 a body having a wall portion configured for securement to the gland, a passageway having an openable barrier closing off a portion of said passageway, and an outlet in communication with said passageway, said passageway being centered about a longitudinal axis; 
 an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released; 
 a piercing member comprising a hollow member located in said passageway and having a piercing tip configured to initially pierce through said openable barrier when said actuator is depressed, said hollow member comprising a plurality of walls therein, aligned along said longitudinal axis, to form a plurality of passageways within said hollow member, each of said plurality of walls having a secondary piercing point adjacent said piercing tip for assisting piercing said openable barrier, whereupon said plurality of passageways are in communication with the liquid in the hollow interior of the bag; and 
 a valve coupled to said actuator and configured to be in either an open state or a closed state, said valve being in said open state when said actuator is depressed and being in said closed state when said actuator is released, whereupon when said valve is in said open state liquid within the hollow interior of the bag is enabled to flow out of the bag through said plurality of passageways and said passageway to said outlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The fitment of  claim 1 , wherein each of said secondary piercing points is formed on a distal edge of a respective one of said plurality of walls. 
     
     
       3. The fitment of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of walls comprises four walls that extend perpendicular to each other to form a cruciform wall structure. 
     
     
       4. The fitment of  claim 3 , wherein said secondary piercing points surround said piercing tip. 
     
     
       5. The fitment of  claim 1 , wherein one of the opening of the gland and one of said wall portion includes at least one annular groove and at least one annular ridge, said at least one annular ridge being configured to be snap-fit into said at least one annular groove to secure said body to the gland. 
     
     
       6. The fitment of  claim 1  wherein said valve comprises a movable valve member and a valve seat, said moveable valve member being mounted on said piercing member and movable therewith into and out of engagement with said valve seat. 
     
     
       7. The fitment of  claim 6 , wherein said piercing member coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved through said passageway in one direction to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved through said passageway in a second direction to a retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator. 
     
     
       8. The fitment of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
       9. A package for holding and dispensing a quantity of a liquid therefrom, said package comprising:
 a flexible bag having a hollow interior in which the liquid is disposed, a wall contiguous with the hollow interior, and a gland located in the wall and having an opening extending therethrough in communication with the hollow interior of the bag; and 
 a fitment configured for selectively dispensing a quantity of the liquid from the bag, said fitment comprising: 
 a body having a wall portion configured for securement to the gland, a passageway having an openable barrier closing off a portion of said passageway, and an outlet in communication with said passageway, said passageway being centered about a longitudinal axis; 
 an actuator comprising a member configured to be repeatedly depressed and released; 
 a piercing member comprising a hollow member located in said passageway and having a piercing tip configured to initially pierce through said openable barrier when said actuator is depressed, said hollow member comprising a plurality of walls therein, aligned along said longitudinal axis, to form a plurality of passageways within said hollow member, each of said plurality of walls having a secondary piercing point adjacent said piercing tip for assisting piercing said openable barrier, whereupon said plurality of passageways are in communication with the liquid in the hollow interior of the bag; and 
 a valve coupled to said actuator and configured to be in either an open state or a closed state, said valve being in said open state when said actuator is depressed and being in said closed state when said actuator is released, whereupon when said valve is in said open state liquid within the hollow interior of the bag is enabled to flow out of the bag through said plurality of passageways and said passageway to said outlet. 
 
     
     
       10. The package of  claim 9 , wherein each of said secondary piercing points is formed on a distal edge of a respective one of said plurality of walls. 
     
     
       11. The package of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of walls comprises four walls that extend perpendicular to each other to form a cruciform wall structure. 
     
     
       12. The package of  claim 11 , wherein said secondary piercing points surround said piercing tip. 
     
     
       13. The package of  claim 9 , wherein one of the opening of the gland and one of said wall portion includes at least one annular groove and at least one annular ridge, said at least one annular ridge being configured to be snap-fit into said at least one annular groove to secure said body to the gland. 
     
     
       14. The package of  claim 9  wherein said valve comprises a movable valve member and a valve seat, said moveable valve member being mounted on said piercing member and movable therewith into and out of engagement with said valve seat. 
     
     
       15. The package of  claim 14 , wherein said piercing member coupled to said actuator and configured to be moved through said passageway in one direction to an extended position upon the depression of said actuator and moved through said passageway in a second direction to a retracted position in automatic response to the release of said actuator. 
     
     
       16. The package of  claim 9 , wherein said actuator comprises a bulb formed of a resilient material.